Your Photos Aren't Just For You... | Vancouver, WA Maternity, Newborn and Family Photographer

Let's face it, not every accept of getting photos taken is fun. It takes work, you not only have to get yourself ready but you have to get all of the members of your family ready too. You have to coordinate outfits and schedules and make sure all of your ducks are in a row. When life gets busy, it can be easy to just say we will get our photos done next month, next season or at the next milestone. It can be easy to put them off but chances are you will regret it, if not for you, for your children.

Studies show that kids who grow up with photos of themselves feel more grounded and loved. Your photos aren't just for you, they are an amazing gift to your children and all of the generations that come from them. How special will it be for your child to be able to look back at these photos when they are grown? They can feel connected to that moment in your life when you were still growing them inside of you. They will be able to feel the excitement and love you had for them even before you laid eyes on them. They can see a part of their own lives they can't remember, when they were so tiny and new. They can see themselves discovering new things in the world and celebrating big milestones. And even better than that, they can share these photos with their own children and build a stronger connection with them. Your photos are more than just snapshots of time, they are a legacy that allows you and your loved ones to reconnect and relive the special moments.

Your pregnancy is such a short time in your life compared to the lifetime you will spend with your child. Your baby will only be so small once and your children will grow up faster than you can ever imagine. Don't let these moments slip by, capture them now and have beautiful art that can be cherish for years to come by you and your children.

Enjoy photos from this sweet spring maternity session at Lewisville Park in Battle Ground,Washington. We had to reschedule this session twice due to rain but when we finally had it we totally lucked out with perfect spring weather and a beautiful golden sunset!

What the Heck is PRUV? | Vancouver, WA Photographer

What the heck is PRUV, this is a question I found myself asking a lot a few months ago. PRUV stands for persistent right umbilical vein, it is a vascular pathology found in babies while in utero. Essentially there is a vein in the belly that directs the blood flow through a fetus, normally the right umbilical vein begins to obliterate around the fourth week of gestation and disappears by the 7th week. In a baby with PRUV the right vein remains open through gestation affecting the way that blood courses through the fetus. This condition pretty rare occurring roughly in 0.1% of pregnancies and is generally diagnosed by ultrasound in the second trimester around the 20th week. It is associated with developmental problems in organs in the renal system and the heart, it is also common for babies with PRUV to be born low birth weights and can be seen in correlation of other conditions such as Single Umbilical Artery.

Back in December my husband and I went in for our second trimester ultrasound. We were elated to have another look our little man find out what we were having but we left our appointment feeling a little scared and unsure. You can read more about this experience in my previous blog post HERE. Because of the rarity of PRUV there was some confusion as to what was acutally going on at first and initially we were informed that our little guy had SUA and that they were going to need to monitor his condition through my pregnancy.

I developed a kidney stone back in January and needed to make a trip to the hospital because of it. While in the hospital we mention to the ultrasound tech that Parker had SUA but when she went to look into it she saw a normal umbilical cord. After a little more digging and referring to another doctor in the hospital we finally found out that Parker actually had PRUV. This is where things got really interesting, no one seemed to really know what PRUV was and didn't know how to describe it other than to that it could cause problems with his heart. At our ultrasound back in December they had us set up an appointment for an Echocardiogram at 6 weeks out. At the time of my kidney stone we were still about 2 weeks from the echo so of course when I got home and had some time I started searching the internet for more info but was really coming up empty handed. About the only thing I knew for sure was that PRUV was less serious than SUA, so that was a bit of a relief.

At the first echo they saw an abnormality on Parker's inferior vena cava. They didn't have much else to tell us, they just wanted us to come back in for another echo when his heart got a little bigger and they could see things a little clearer. We were still kind of in the dark at this point.

At our second echo we FINALLY got some answer. We had a fantastic tech who actually had seen cases of PRUV in the past and was able to really explain it to us. The doctor stood in while the tech was doing the echo portion of our ultrasound and was able to tell us right away that our little man's heart was looking normal and healthy! So much weight was lifted off of me at that appointment. I finally felt like I understood what was going on with Parker and I knew his heart was healthy. His femur was measuring in the 2nd percentile so they wanted us to come in for another ultrasound just to take another look at his growth but at this point they were feeling pretty confident about his health.

A snap from our 28 week ultrasound. Parker is head down and tacoed up with his feet in face.

Yesterday was our 32 week ultrasound and likely will be our last. His femur is still measuring very short but there are no other signs of genetic abnormalities, he weighed in a just over 4 pounds and is in the 40th percentile for his gestational age. He is growing well and so there is no longer any real concerns about his health or prognosis. We are looking at having a totally normal, healthy and short (just like his momma) baby here in just a few weeks.

Thank you to everyone who has been following our story and has been showing us all the support and love. There were moments that were definitely a little scary but knowing how loved we all are made it so much easier to be positive through the whole experience and I truly believe that the positive attitude we maintained made all the difference in the world when it came to Parker's prognosis.

Not all cases of PRUV result in complications, in fact according to a specific study only about 60% of cases delivery was unremarkable and post-natal evolution was favorable. We are so lucky to be in that 60%
Additional information on PRUV can be found at these sites;
https://sonoworld.com/
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/

Here are a few snaps from our 32 week ultrasound. Parker is still positioned head down and seems to enjoy being tacoed over, he never seems to take his legs out of his face. His position has made it hard to see much of his face our last 2 appointment but he already has some hair and we were able to get a little peek of it so that was awesome. We are so excited to meet our little man this May and so happy to know that he is growing healthy and happy in my belly.

This Is My Happy Place | Vancouver, WA Newborn and Family Photographer

Seriously guys, this is my happy place! 

I love my studio so much, every time I walk through the door I just feel like I am home. I am overwhelmed with the feeling that I am where I am suppose to be when I am in the studio, with my amazing clients, creating beautiful pieces of art.

My journey to this point has been a fun one with lots of changes along the way but I wouldn't change anything about it. So let's go back to the beginning; I moved into my first studio nearly 4 years ago. I met a wonderful friend of mine, Tara Thackeray Photography, back in summer of 2013. We instantly bonded over our love of photography. The next Spring I needed to rent a studio for a day and Tara was the first person that came to mind. After renting her studio for the day, she came to me with the idea of sharing her studio with her. I, of course, jumped at the opportunity. It was the perfect stepping stone for me, it gave me a place to grow and learn from. 

A little look into the space I shared with Tara

After nearly 2 years in her studio, I was ready to move into something that I could call my own. I knew I didn't want to leave the Academy Building. It is in such an amazing location and the building itself is full of so much history and beauty, it was a no-brainer. After a little but of looking a small little suite on the second floor became available. It was definitely a little on the smaller size but it had everything else I was looking for and it was a great first step into a space that I had control over.

The second floor studio

After just less than a year in the suite I was ready to stretch out a little and have some more room. So my wonderful friend Missy Fant Photography decided to look at some other suites available in the building and BOY, did we luck out! We found this amazing suite on the first floor that was being converted from 1 large unit into 2 smaller units. The first time we looked at the suite it was still under heavy construction being renovated but immediately I could see all of the potential. In classic Brianna fashion, we jumped on it. We signed our lease that day. The next couple of weeks waiting for the suite to be ready for move in was torture but it was so worth it. Now after almost a year in 101-A, I am still as happy as I was that first day we got our keys and I rolled all over the floor in joy. We have settled in so well and the studio is everything I could have wanted or asked for.

Please enjoy this little look through the studio. If you want to see it for yourself, I would love to have you by! Contact me to set up your free photography consult today, I would enjoy nothing more than sharing a cup of coffee with you in my happy place! 

Have you ever had a place that you just loved? A home, an apartment or a work space that made you feel at peace every time you were there? Or have you ever had to make any big decisions you have had to make in your life or maybe a business? Let's have a conversation about it, leave me a comment and tell me about your story!

Aryanna Newborn Session | Vancouver, WA Newborn Photographer

I really loved getting to know this couple through their maternity session so as you can imagine I was very excited to meet their little lady. Only 12 days new and Aryanna already has so much personality, she has the most expressive little face that will just tug at your heart strings. She also has the thickest head of hair, it is quite impressive. Even though Aryanna managed to pee all over my lap, I had such a fun afternoon hanging out with her and her parents. She got me in just the right spot and made it look like I peed myself and so we all got a good laugh out of that.

It was such an honor to be able to capture this precious time in her sweet life! Go check out her mom and dad's maternity session here;

A Sweet September Maternity Session

How To Get The Most From Your Engagement Session | Portland, OR Engagement Photographer

Did you know that the holiday's are the most popular time of the year for people to pop the question to their special someone? Really, could you ask for a better holiday surprise then getting asked by the one you love if you'd spend the rest of your life with them. 

Were you one of the lucky ones who got engaged this past holiday season? Let me say, congratulations! You are about to embark on a very exciting journey! Although exciting, wedding planning can be a lot of work and even a little overwhelming at times. Put your mind at ease and keep these simple tips in mind before your engagement session and make one step of the process a lot easier on yourself!

1. Pick a location that has meaning to you:

Pick a location that you love or holds some sentimental value to you both. If you are somewhere that makes you happy that will absolutely shine through in your photos. Consider picking the place you guys had your first date, your favorite place to hangout, your favorite hiking spot or even the place your sweetheart popped the question. 

2. Consider the season:

Plan ahead and book your session accordingly. Do you want beautiful, warm, summery photos? Or are you wanting to have an adventure in the rain? Or do you really love the beautiful colors of fall? The location you choose may be very different given the time of year so make sure that you are keeping that in mind. Are you planning on using your photos for your save the dates or invitations? Make sure that you book your session with enough time to get the photos you need before the wedding date.

3. What to wear:

There is a lot of things to consider when choosing your outfits for your session but the number one priority is, is it comfortable and practical for the location? If you are not comfortable in what you are wearing, it will show in your photos so no matter what you choose, you should feel good in it.

Coordinate, don't match. Matching is outdated. Pick complementary colors and only one person should be wearing a pattern.

Layers and accessories add dimension to your outfit and make it more interesting. Scarves, sweaters, jewelry are all great ways to spice up an outfit.

Shoes matter! Avoid wearing tennis shoes unless that are trendy (think converse or vans) and that go with the look and feel of your session. Try to avoid stilettos if you are in a grassy field. If you choose a location that is a bit of hike, wear a comfy pair of shoes to hike up in and change into the shoes you want to wear just before pictures.

Think about your location when picking choosing your outfits. An evening gown or tux may feel a little off in the middle of the woods.

Consider the weather, you probably won't be comfortable in a sundress is it's 40 degrees out. Dress to match the weather because comfort is key.

Bring outfit changes. Most engagement session last about 2 hours and having more than one outfit will help to bring some variety to your session. Don't be afraid to bring more changes of clothes than you may need, you never know when inspiration might hit. It is always better to have more options.

4. The ring and your nails:

We want to show off that beautiful ring of yours, get your ring polished and get a manicure before your session for a more finished look in close up shots of your ring.

5: Props and pups:

If you have something you are envisioning for your session, don't hesitate to bring it along. Props can really make your images stand out and add a fun and unique element to your session. Bringing your fur-baby to your session can be a fun little treat. Now that being said, I have noticed that when some dogs are included, owners tend to stress more and that will show in your photos. Think about your dog's obedience skills and whether or not you feel adding him or her will be stressful. Bring treats, a squeaky toy and poop bags if you do decide to include them.
Sometimes the best photographs are the simplest, where a beautiful backdrop and subjects really shine, so don't worry if you just want to keep it simple.

6: RELAX AND HAVE FUN!

You engagement session is all about you and your love story, it should be a fun and memorable experience. Come to your session relaxed and ready to have fun. Take a little time to breath and relax before your session, sit down and have a quiet moment with a nice hot cup of coffee to wind down.

Are you feeling excited about your engagement photos? Are you thinking about booking your engagement session? Let's chat! I would love to create some beautiful memories together. Contact me at Brianna@BmwPhotography.net or (360)721-5536 to set up your free engagement session consultation!

A Sweet September Maternity Session | Vancouver, WA Maternity Photographer

Round Lake is one of my hands down favorite session locations and this session is just proves why I love it so much. It is such an easy location to access, just a few minutes outside of downtown Camas and it is so versatile. This location has so much to offer, it's a photographer's dream and so was this couple! Sweet, funny and affection. You really couldn't ask for more. I had so much fun walking around the lake and spending the afternoon with these two. We had awesome conversations and shared some really great laughs. These two had my crying from laughter more than once. I ask Haris to whisper some sweet nothings into Cambria's ear and she responded by saying to him "Talk to me about food!" He happily obliged and started sweetly whispering to her about steak. I just about lost it then, these two were so funny. These two were so excited to meet their sweet little Aryanna and you can feel it in every single picture.

Enjoy the highlights from their session!